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Vaccinations

Dog and Cat Vaccinations in Stockton, CA

Protecting your animal against disease is one of your highest priorities as a pet owner, and it’s impossible to do so without vaccines. We invite you to learn more about vaccines, and why they’re important to your animal, today. Allow our veterinarian in Stockton, CA to explain.

Why Vaccinations are Necessary

A bacteria or virus, when it attacks an animal’s system, causes an immune response. That’s when the body mobilizes, producing antibodies to seek and destroy the infectious agent. However, it can take days for this immune response to occur, because it is unique to each disease, and by that time it is often too late for the animal.

If you want your pet to be prepared to fight these diseases when they encounter them in the real world, their system first needs to be “trained.” That’s how dog and cat vaccinations work, they are very low doses of dead or disabled viruses or bacteria, which teach your animal how to fight them without actually endangering its life.

Why Cat and Dog Vaccinations Vary by Life Stages

Cat and dog vaccinations vary by the stage of life. In the earliest years, when your pet is most vulnerable and doesn’t yet have a developed immune system, they are most susceptible to disease. They need a series of frequent vaccinations at this age to protect them. Later in life, dogs and cats need boosters or shots that re-up the immune system’s ability to protect against certain diseases, since immunity doesn’t last forever.

Core and Non-Core Vaccines in California

There are two types of vaccines: core and non-core. Core vaccines are “non-optional,” in the sense that a vet will strongly recommend you get these vaccines if the state does not outright mandate that you have them. You can ask your vet about the updated laws and requirements in your areas, but typically core vaccines for dogs in California include: canine parvovirus (CPV)

canine distemper virus (CDV)

canine adenovirus (CAV)

rabies

leptospirosis

For cats living in California, the core vaccines are:

feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV1)

feline calicivirus (FCV)

feline panleukopenia virus (FPV)

feline leukemia virus (FeLV - kittens)

rabies

Depending on your lifestyle, how much you travel, how far out into the backcountry your pet roams, your exact location and so on, your vet might recommend further vaccines (non-core) to protect your pet against additional dangers.

Make an Appointment at Venetian Pet Hospital in Stockton Today

Are you ready to get your animal vaccinated? We’re standing by to help, so give us a call at 209-477-3926 or request an appointment through our website. No matter what your animal’s age, we can customize a course of core and non-core vaccines for them to keep them healthy from the very earliest years to the golden ones. We look forward to counting you and your pet amongst our family soon.